Fruit-picking bucket



May 8, 1923. 1,454,779

4 A. z. WELLS ET AL FRUIT PICKING BUCKET Filed Nov. 1, 1921 YNVENTOR.

LITTORNEY.

Patented May 8, 1923.

ALFRED Z. WELLS AND JAMES M. WADE, KVENATCI-IEE, WASHINGTON.

FRUIT-PICKIITG BUCKET.

Application filed November 1, 1921. Serial No. 511,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED Z. WELLS and learns M. WADE, citizens of the United States, residing at VVenatchee, in the county of Chelan and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Fruit-Picking Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit pickers bucket or bag of the type to be suspended from the shoulders of the picker leaving the hands free forpicking.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed as to fit across the front of the user and having a flexible openended bottom detachably or other projections,

mounted on the rigid body thereof and equipped with means for detachably securing said open end to provide for the easy dumping of the bucket and yet hold it securely while being filled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bucket of this character so padded as to prevent bruising of the fruit while being depositedin the bucket and it is also equipped with cushioning means at the bottom to prevent bruising of the fruit incident to the setting of the bucket on limbs and which means also retards the action when dumping the bucket to prevent bruising.

Another object is to equip a bucket of this character with means for preventing wear of the flexible body incident to the rubbing thereof against the user.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a fruit picking bucket constructed inaccordance with this invention, shown applied and with parts broken out and in section.

erence character 1, comprises a substantiallyoblong body 2 elongated in cross section,

Fig. 2 is a detail rear elevation thereofstantially with the curvature of the rear wall t although the curve of the rear wall 4 is of a greater radius than the curve of the front wall 3. The curved rear wall 1 is designed to adapt the body 2 to fit against the fruit picker. The upper and lower ends of the body 2 areopened and the top of body 2, has the edgethereof inclosed-with a pad or cushion 5, the latter extending entirely around the top edge of the body 2, p

and is adapted to prevent bruising of the fruit when contacting lower edge of the body is providedwith a reinforcing bead 6, to assist in the retaining of a flexible spout bottom member 10 to be presently referred to, with the body 2.

Each of the sides of the body 2,'intermediate the top and bottom thereof, has secured therewith an outwardly'projecting angle shaped attaching member 7 which provides a seat, as well as a stop for a flexible connecting member 11. Each of the members 11 has its upper end formed with a knot, which when the member: 11 is seated in the member 7 willengageagainst the member 7 and prevent the disconnection of the members 11 with respect to the member 7. The lower end of the bottom 10, is provided with a pair of grommets 12, providing means for the connecting with the bottom of the lower end of the members 11.

The flexible spout-like bottom 10 is made of canvas or other suitable fabric and is detachably mounted on the lower end of the body 2 by means of a clamping band 13, the upper end of the bottom 10 being folded inwardly as shown clearly in Fig. 1 and placed around the lower end of the member 2 and clampingly secured thereto by the band 13. y

The lower open end of the spout-like bottom 10 is preferably provided with a reinforcing hem 14: and this bottom when drawn across the lower portion of thefront of the body 2 and pulled upwardly into the posi tion shown in Figs. 1 and 4, will operate .to close the bottom of the bucket-body2 and will be held in this position by engagement of the knotted members 11 with the members 7. It will be obvious that whenv therewith. The

Arranged within the body 2, at the lower 'end thereof, as well as being secured to the inner face of said body 2, is a pair of oppositely extending spaced flaps or pads 15,

v 16, formedof anysuitable material, pref erablyi leatherand are. designed to prevent thelbruising of the fruit which might be caused by setting the-edge of the bucket on ates to retard the discharge of the fruit a limb or other projection and it also operwhen dumping the bucket and prevent consequent bruising thereof.

A guard 17 of metal or other suitable material is riveted to the band 13 at the rear of the bucket 2 and extends down over the lower edge of the bucket to prevent the bottom from wear by contact with the pickers legs or with the ladder.

The bucket 1 is designed to be suspended from the shoulders of the picker by means of shoulder straps here shown composed of a single piece of webbing 18, although ob- -viously the webbing may be made in sections and suitably connected. This strap or webbing strip 18 has the ends thereof adjustably secured by a buckle 19 and has I looselymounted thereon a snap hook20 designed to be detachably engaged withone of the loops 8 carried by the rear of thebucket body 2.' Suitable slides 21and 22 are carried by the straps one adjacent to the other of the loops 8 and the other adjacent to r the snap hook 20 to assist in retaining the straps in operative positions.

The strip 18 extends through that loop 8 with which the slide 21 is'arranged inclose proximity to.

'The arrangement of the straps relative to the body of the wearer is shown clearly in Fig. 1, the cross portion 23 thereof being designed to be arranged across the back or shoulders of the picker the front members 24 and 25 being arranged at the front of the wearer and extending up over the shoulders thereof. It will be obvious that this strap or webbing strip 18 may be adjusted to bring the bucket 1 at any desired position at the will of the user and to adapt it for use by ;persons of different sizes.

In theme of this picker, it being suspended as shown in Fig. 1,'with the bottom member turned up and secured by the cords 11, the picker may proceed to fill the container or bodyportion 2 and after it'has been filled and it is desired-to empty the bucket, all

that is necessary is for him to release the cords 11 and permit the mouth-like bottom 10 to drop down and discharge into a suitforth in the specification, but it will be un-- derstood that any modificationswithin the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invent-ion or sacrificing any of, its advantages.

lVhat we claim is 1. A fruit picking bucket comprising a substantially oval shaped bodyformed of rigid material and open at both ends, an attaching member projecting outwardly from each side thereof, a flexible tubular bottom having its upper end secured to said body and adapted to be folded across the lower end of the body for closing it,-fiexible connecting members carried by the free end of said bot-tom at opposite sides thereof and detachably engaging with said attaching members whereby said body may be closed or opened when desired, and oppositely disposed flexible elements secured within said body at the lower end thereoffor retarding the discharge of the contents thereof when said bottomis detached from said attaching members. k

2. A fruit picking bucket comprising a substantially oval shaped body of rigid material open at both ends, a flexible tubular bottom detachably carried by and adapted to be folded across the lower end of said body for closing it, means for securing the free end of said bottom to said body for closing the lower end of the latter, and oppositely extending and laterally disposed flaps carried by said body at opposite sides thereof adjacent the junctionof the bottom therewith to operate as retarders for the discharging contents of the body.

8. A fruit picking bucket comprising a body of rigid material open at both ends, a flexible tubular bottom, a clamping ring for securing one end of said bottom to said body, said bottom being designed to be folded across the bottom of the body for closing it, retarding elements secured Within said body at the lower ends thereof, means for holding the bottom in closed position, and means connected with the body for suspending it around the neck and shoulders of the user.

4. A fruit picking bucket comprising a substantially oval shaped body formed of rigid material and opened at both ends. the rearwall of said body projecting toward the front wall thereof, a dumping bottom connectedto the lower endv of said body, means for connecting saidbottom to said body to prevent the dumping operation, a cushion inclosing the top edge of said body throughout, and a pad secured to the rear wall of said body and depending from said cushion.

5. A fruit picking bucket comprising a substantially oval shaped body formed of rigid material and opened at both ends, the rear wall of said body projecting toward the front wall thereof, a dumping bottom connected to the lower end of said body, means for connecting said bottom to said body to prevent the dumping operation, a cushion inclosing the top edge of said body throughout, a pad secured to the rear wall of said body and depending from said cushion, and oppositely extending flexible retarding elements arranged within said body at the lower end thereof.

6. A fruit picking bucket comprising a substantially oval shaped body formed of rigid material and opened at both ends, the rear wall of said body projecting toward the front wall thereof, a dumping bottom connected to the lower end of said body, means for connecting said bottom to said body to prevent the dumping operation, a cushion inclosing the top edge of said body throughout, a pad secured to the rear wall. of said body and depending from said cushion, flexible retarding elements arranged within said body at the lower end thereof, and a guard arranged exteriorly of said body at the rear thereof and depending below the lower end of the body.

7 A fruit picking bucket comprising a substantially oval shaped body open at both ends and formed of rigid material, a flexible tubular bottom depending from the lower end of said body, means for detachably clamping the upper end of said bottom to the lower end of said body, means for detachably connecting the lower end of said bottom to the sides of said body thereby closing the lower end of the body, and oppositely disposed and laterally extending retarding elements arranged within said body at the lower end thereof.

8. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body of oval contour, and a pair of oppositely disposed flat retarding elements secured to the inner face of the lower end of said body portion and projecting laterally therefrom.

9. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body of oval contour, and a cushion element enveloping the top edge of and projecting from the inner and outer faces of the said body and further having its lower portion secured to said body.

10. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body of oval contour, a cushion element enveloping the top edge of and projecting from the inner and outer faces of the said body and further having its lower portion secured to said body, and a pad positioned against the inner face of the rear of said body and depending'from and secured in position by said element.

11. A fruit picking. bucket comprising a rigid hollow body of oval contour, a cushion element enveloping the top edge of and projecting from the inner and outer faces of the said body and further having its lower portion secured to said body, a pad positioned against the inner face of the rear of said body and depending from and secured in position by said element, and said body having its rear wall projecting toward the front wall thereof.

12. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body open at each end and of oval contour, a flexible tubular bottom inclosing the lower end of and depending from said body, a clamping ring for detachably securing the bottom to said body, and a guard secured to and depending from said ring.

18. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body open at each end, and a pair of oppositely disposed flexible retarding elements secured within said body at the lower ends thereof and projecting at rightangles with respect thereto.

14. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body open at each end, and a pair of oppositely disposed flexible retarding elements secured within said body at the lower ends thereof and projecting at rightangles with respect thereto, said elements extending against the inner faces of the front and rear walls of said body.

15. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body open at its top and bottom and of oval contour, and a pair of oppositely disposed flexible retarding elements having portions thereof secured to the inner faces of the ends of said body at the lower portion thereof and further extending at rightangles with respect to the ends of said body at the bottom thereof.

16. A fruit picking bucket comprising a rigid hollow body open at its top and bottom and of oval contour, a pair of opp'ositelydisposed flexible retarding elements having portions thereof secured to the inner faces of the ends of said body at the lower portion thereof and further extending at rightangles with respect to the ends of said body at the bottom thereof, and a tubular element connected to the outer face of said body and further adapted to have its end connected with said body, thereby closing the bottom of the latter.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures hereto.

ALFRED Z. WELLS. JAMES M. WADE. 

